Well, well, well... Are the Oakland Athletics going to lose a game ever again? I'd say no, judging by their ongoing four-game winning streak, but we'll have to wait and see!
One thing is factual, though, and that's the trade deadline arriving on August 1st at 6 p.m. ET. That's fewer than two months away, for those of you keeping track at home without a calendar in front of you.
The A's, even if they win out the remainder of their schedule from now to that date, would still (almost) be playing below-.500 ball. That's what happens when you enter June sitting a paltry 12-46 record that is now only slightly better, reading 16-50 entering Sunday's matchup against the Brew Crew.
All of the above to say that, inevitably, the A's will be sellers this summer, or at least not be buyers come August. And that, of course, has already started to make folks across the internet landscape to come up with saucy rumors about A's players that might be on their way out of town (no, not heading the Las Vegas Strip, not yet at least).
In an article written by R.J. Anderson of CBS, he mentions Oakland's Seth Brown as a potential trade candidate heading into the hot weeks of the summer. This is how he explained his reasoning for such a move:
"Brown only recently returned to the A's lineup after missing more than a month because of a strained oblique. He's established himself in recent years as a solid, if unspectacular three-corner option against right-handed pitching. Indeed, his wOBA with the platoon advantage since 2021 puts him in company with the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Rowdy Tellez, and Jake Cronenworth, among other starters on potential playoff squads. Brown will turn 31 in July, meaning the A's have no reason to hold onto him. Potential fits: Mets, Padres, Yankees"
Brown has appeared in 26 games this season logging 98 PA. He's reached base at a .286 clip while blasting three homers to go with five doubles and 17 hits overall scoring 10 runners.
Through Saturday, Brown is slashing .195/.286/.356 while boasting a putrid 84 OPS+ that is looking nothing like great. That said, Brown is a valued veteran in the A's organization, has spent five seasons with Oakland in the Majors, and knows how to play both corner outfield positions as well as being a capable first baseman.
Truth be told, Brown is having a year to forget between injuries and underproduction. He might be happy finding a new home, though that might not actually be the best thing for the A's to do as the potential return they would get in any trade shouldn't be too high.
Still 30 years old but with ample experience, Oakland should hold onto the veteran and keep him around the clubhouse if only to offer some tips to the young crop of talents hitting the A's of late instead of selling off just for the sake of doing something.